PAUL Holmes of legendary Swindon store Holmes Music is taking part in a nationwide scheme to get the next generation into vinyl.

The Record Token scheme, to be launched on Monday, aims to help independent music stores sell vinyl for the tokens, working similar to a gift card.

The Red House Records boss, said: “Now that the vinyl record is well and truly back, it`s a perfect time to bring back record tokens. Fathers day is coming up so that will be the first test to see if its popular.

He started his business five years ago as an addition to the family-run Holmes music on Faringdon Road, which was started more than 50 years ago by his father John.

“There still is a lot of nostalgia with people of a certain age who used to buy records on a regular basis," he said.

“For younger people it’s partly the curiosity about how we used to listen to music.

"They’ve probably grown up straight into the download age where people just stream music in their phones.

“But it’s not something you can collect and build up a library of. All of the big sleeves, the artworks and limited coloured vinyl make them collectable as well as things you can listen to.”

“If you’ve spent money on the turntables and equipment it’s a bit more of an event when you select a record and watch it play. It’s all part of the experience."

He admitted: “I did sell off a lot in the ’80s and ‘90s which I regret now. So I’m currently doing the opposite thing of replacing what I had on CD.

“It’s slowly building up again. I favour the rock side of things but also jazz as well, that sounds great on vinyl.”

The revival of vinyl has given a boost to records stores across the UK.

Sales of vinyl reached a 25-year high in 2016. There were more than 3.2 million LPs sold, an increase of 53 per cent on the previous year.

The record token is valid for up to eight years and can be topped up to £250.